“Chairwave,” “Poem Booth,” and “Roast Booth” by Amsterdam-based design studio VOUW invite visitors to slow down, connect, and experience technology through a more human lens. Installed at City Place in Spring, TX, these interactive works transform everyday public space into a stage for play, conversation, and creativity.

“Chairwave” is a band of illuminated, interconnected chairs that move in a gentle wave. When you step onto the platform, one seat drops down for you, followed by the next. The unfolding motion creates an unexpected moment to sit, pause, and invite conversation. It shows how technology can create space for genuine interaction rather than speed life up.

“Poem Booth” combines the deeply human art of poetry with the perceptive abilities of Artificial Intelligence. The booth takes your photo, analyzes it, and instantly generates a personalized poem, along with a QR code you can use to save or share it. The result is an intimate, creative exchange shaped by both human expression and advanced technology.

“Roast Booth” brings humor into the mix. After capturing your photo, the installation uses AI to analyze your expression, clothing, and posture to create a playful, on-the-spot roast. Sometimes it is clever, sometimes it is surprising, and often it makes people laugh. It reflects VOUW’s interest in how technology can be used in positive and entertaining ways.

Founded in 2017 by designers Mingus Vogel and Justus Bruns, VOUW works at the intersection of design and technology. The studio is known for its philosophy of slowtech: design that encourages people to slow down and come together in the real world.

These works are part of an ongoing series of temporary public art installations curated by Weingarten Art Group for City Place, in partnership with Harris County Improvement District 18 and developer CDC Houston.

Photography by Nicki Evans. Videography by Tripp Films.